When seeking to apply all scriptures to our own lives, this can reinforce the necessity we have to defend the liberty of ourselves and our fellow citizens. It reinforces the need to develop critical thinking skills and discernment to determine what the truth is in a chaotic world filled with the loud noise of overwhelming opinions and information overload. When there are always sides seeking to spin events or news to support their position or narrative, we have to learn how to investigate claims and evaluate them for ourselves.
It makes me think of the scriptures in Ephesians 6 which say, “12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. . .” I liked this part about the “preparation of the gospel of peace.” It seemed like it could mean two things. It could be referring to our personal preparation of having knowledge about Christ’s gospel of peace, or laying the foundation or the preparation in the world for the fullness of the gospel of peace to come.
The scriptures continue with “16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” We must speak the truth, in boldness. We have to stand up for what we know to be right.
This relates in my mind to the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 123 which says “12 For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.” We have to do our part to proclaim that peace is found through morality. When we feel like our small, individual efforts to stand for what is right can hardly matter, verses 16-17 in Doctrine and Covenants 123 reassure us with, “16 You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves. 17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.” I highly recommend reading D&C 123, because it’s extremely powerful and seems relevant to today.
But now, back to the assigned reading. Alma goes forth among the people teaching them about the word of God. He and Amulek are able to teach with power and given protection. “This was done that the Lord might show forth his power in them.” The people who were wicked wanted to know why God “sendeth no more authority than one man among this people, to declare unto them the truth of such great and marvelous things?”
Alma taught the people that if they kept the commandments they would prosper, but if not they wouldn’t. They talked about how the sins of the Lamanites were caused by the traditions of their fathers which kept them ignorant, and that the Lord promised mercy to them because it wasn’t their fault.
They taught that “And not many days hence the Son of God shall come in his glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long-suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people and to answer their prayers.” I think that the following scripture applies well to us: “prepare ye the way of the Lord, for the time is at hand that all men shall reap a reward of their works, according to that which they have been.” I like this whole thing. I like the part about preparing the way of the Lord, which to me means spreading the news of his gospel of peace. I like that we will reap a reward according to what we have been. Not what we thought, what we did, but what we have been.
I liked the part about Amulek discussing how he had a hard heart, and that he was “called many times and . . . would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart . . .” Do we ever choose to harden our hearts and refuse to hear God? Do we refuse to do the things that we know we should do? Do we ever rebel against God in our hearts?
Alma and Amulek say some pretty harsh things against the people of their time, “O ye wicked and perverse generation, ye lawyers and hypocrites, for ye are laying the foundations of the devil; for ye are laying traps and snares to catch the holy ones of God. 18 Ye are laying plans to pervert the ways of the righteous, and to bring down the wrath of God upon your heads, even to the utter destruction of this people.”
This was in stark contrast in my mind to the scripture that speaks of the saints saying, “33 Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.” It really makes it seem like we can either be laying the foundations for the devil, or the Lord. It seems like we should consciously choose what side we are on, and what kingdom we want to be helping to build.
They warned that “this people should be governed by their own voices—yea, well did he say that if the time should come that the voice of this people should choose iniquity, that is, if the time should come that this people should fall into transgression, they would be ripe for destruction.” The people were mad at Alma and Amulek for teaching the truth and wanted to throw them in jail. They responded “For behold, have I testified against your law? Ye do not understand; ye say that I have spoken against your law; but I have not, but I have spoken in favor of your law, to your condemnation.” These statements remind me of the scripture in 1 Nephi 16 that talks about the wicked, or those who are transgressing the law, take the truth to be hard.
It was the lawyers and the judges and the leaders who were corrupt and wicked. And they did this “for the sole purpose to get gain, because they received their wages according to their employ, therefore, they did stir up the people to riotings, and all manner of disturbances and wickedness, that they might have more employ, that they might get money according to the suits which were brought before them; therefore they did stir up the people. . .” That’s very telling, and ironic because it seems like it could be describing our country today right now.
Alma and Amulek plead with the people, who “[pretended] to want to converse and dialogue, but really . . . wanted to twist the truth and lie.” This was a “very subtle plan, as to the subtlety of the devil . . . to lie and to deceive this people [and] set them against [Alma and Amulek].” The righteous were waiting to hear the joyful news of Christ’s coming, “for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice.” They plead from the innermost parts of their hearts, “with great anxiety even unto pain,” that the people “would hearken . . . and cast off [their] sins, and not procrastinate the day of [their] repentance;”
There were so many parallels between this story and our day. When Alma spoke the truth, some listened, but more were mad because he spoke plainly. They claimed that he he lied and he was advocating against their law, lawyers, and judges. Even one of the men who had been strongly advocating against their teachings realized he was wrong. “and he also knew concerning the blindness of the minds, which he had caused among the people by his lying words; and his soul began to be harrowed up under a consciousness of his own guilt; yea, he began to be encircled about by the pains of hell.
7 And it came to pass that he began to cry unto the people, saying: Behold, I am guilty, and these men are spotless before God. And he began to plead for them from that time forth; but they reviled him, saying: Art thou also possessed with the devil? And they spit upon him, and cast him out from among them, and also all those who believed in the words which had been spoken by Alma and Amulek; and they cast them out, and sent men to cast stones at them.”
These chapters are disheartening because they make clear to us the corruption and the lies that people in power can craft and use to deceive the people. It’s sad to see the destruction, chaos, and turmoil that results from wicked people. When school shootings first became a thing and the twin towers were destroyed, I wondered how people could be so evil. How could they do these things to other people. I wondered how God could allow such horrible things to happen to innocent people. My answer was in the following scripture.
When the crowd escalated to violence, killing women and children, burning scripture and records. Alma and Amulek were horrified by what was happening. They wondered how God could let such horrible things happen to innocent people too, and Alma said that "[God] doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.”
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